School of the Year for Student Careers Programme : Fettes College


Fettes College brings careers to life with a forward-thinking approach to prepare our young people for their #fettesnextsteps

The Fettes Career Partnership Programme brings together our current students and the global network of Old Fettesians, current and past parents. Utilising the expertise of this engaged, diverse group, we provide real world experience in an ever-changing career market. The simple aim is to provide genuine career insight and support to form a powerful, accessible career and life-skills knowledgebase. (Over 1000 OFs offer their support).

External Expertise is integrated into our careers curriculum by hosting; informal networking events to ‘lift the lid’ on blended career skill areas (e.g. creativity, problem-solving, people & leadership); Career insight and skill workshops; Career Journey speakers; Lunches with 5 & 10 year leavers highlighting their #fettesnextsteps so far. There are also: business networking sessions in local offices; topic-focussed career themed lessons and working lunches; a Higher Education focussed Careers Day; a mock assessment centre and access to supportive young OFs willing to share their experiences of university. Our team of Careers Prefects supports the running of the pupil programme.

Involving Parents is vitally important to encourage shared and supportive career exploration, work shadowing and experience. All Lower Sixth (Y12) parents attend Careers Day with their child to collaboratively consider the dynamic career journey ahead. Many parents are also actively involved in our ‘Meet the Experts’ room, giving them the opportunity to share their own advice.

‘Through the Lifting the Lid event I found out that I might be interested in something that I would have never considered as a career option! Really engaging and informative, gave me a lot to think about’

Our Careers Curriculum starts in Third Form (Y9) with career exploration developing early ideas and facilitating informed GCSE subject choices. Practical research into the world of work, jobs, work experience and aptitude testing aids further discovery.

In Fourth Form (Y10) students take an aspirational approach, identifying and linking their personal qualities with careers that they might enjoy.

In Fifth Form (Y11), students receive impartial careers guidance from Inspiring Futures and undertake Futurewise testing to provide career aptitudes for personal consideration.

In the Sixth Form (Y12 and Y13), career exploration and preparation for Higher Education become a strong focus with: personal aptitude and interest pathways for HE Courses and Careers worldwide; coaching for pupils and parents on HE admissions procedures. Students research their optimal HE destinations, keeping track of this information, in partnership with Careers staff and their parents, through the informative Unifrog platform.

Continuing Support extends for life beyond Fettes with valuable links throughout their time in HE and beyond. For our alumni we offer professional networking events in a variety of worldwide key hub locations and bespoke support. Our international Drinks & Careers events and ever popular and LinkedIn now presents Fettes connections through the corporate search functionality.

Our life-long partnership with pupils, alumni and parents combined with a robust career curriculum sets up our real-world career approach for the 21st Century.

2024 Awards Timeline

Nominations
open

March

Nominations
close

4thJune

Commended
announced

3rdJuly

Finalists
announced

9thSeptember

Judges
meet

September

Awards
ceremony

October